22 January 1953, Hanford, California, USA. Following the success of Escape and Frontiers, the members of US band Journey took an extended break in order to pursue solo projects. Vocalist Steve Perry assembled a team of respected session players to produce Street Talk, which displayed soul and R&B influences in both Perrys vocals and songwriting, and proved a superb
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This AOR band derives its name from the fact that the original members were drawn from both sides of the Atlantic, and this mixture of influences is much in evidence in their recorded legacy. Mick Jones (27 December 1944, London, England; guitar, vocals) formed the band in 1976, having spent time in Nero And The Gladiators (two minor hits, Entry Of The Gladiators
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As a result of home made demos recorded in the early 70s by enterprising MIT engineering graduate Tom Scholz (Donald Thomas Scholz, 10 March 1947, Toledo, Ohio, USA), one of the finest AOR albums of all time was created. The initial batch of tapes were recorded with Barry Goudreau (b. 29 November 1951, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; guitar), Jim Masdea (drums) and Ron Patti (vo
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This Chicago, Illinois, USA-based quintet is widely believed to be responsible for the development of the term pomp-rock (pompous, overblown arrangements, with perfect-pitch harmonies and a very full production).Styx evolved from the bands Tradewinds and TW4, but renamed themselves after the fabled river from Greek mythology, when they signed to Wooden N
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This talented and sophisticated American pomp-rock group released a string of first-class albums between 1982 and 1988. Featuring Jack Blades (vocals, bass), Brad Gillis (guitar, ex-Ozzy Osbourne), Alan Fitzgerald (keyboards, ex-Montrose), Kelly Keagy (drums) and Jeff Watson (guitar), they gigged in and around their home town of San Francisco as an extension of Gillis clu
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This sophisticated melodic US rock band was put together by guitarists Jim Peterik (formerly of the Ides Of March) and Frankie Sullivan in 1978. Recruiting vocalist Dave Bickler, they recorded their self-titled debut as a three-piece. This featured a potpourri of ideas that had no definite direction or style. They expanded the band to a quintet in 1981, with the addition of Mar
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Towards the end of the 80s, a new generation of supergroups emerged from the USA, including Mr. Big, Badlands, Damn Yankees, Alias, and, arguably the most successful of them all, Bad English. The band was formed in 1988 by ex-Babys vocalist and successful solo artist John Waite (4 July 1952, Lancaster, Lancashire, England), ex-Santana and Journey guitarist Neal S
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This UK-based heavy rock band has been led throughout its career by David Coverdale (22 September 1951, Saltburn-By-The Sea, North Yorkshire, England). The lead vocalist with Deep Purple since 1973, Coverdale left that unit in 1976 and recorded two solo albums, Whitesnake and Northwinds. Shortly afterwards, he formed a touring band from musicians who had played on those reco
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This perennially popular UK hard rock band was formed in 1977 in Sheffield, Yorkshire by Pete Willis (16 February 1960, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; guitar), Rick Savage (b. 2 December 1960, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; bass) and Tony Kenning (drums), as Atomic Mass. They assumed their current name when Joe Elliott (b. 1 August 1959, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; vocals
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This durable US rock band features the talents of sisters Ann (19 June 1951, San Diego, California, USA) and Nancy Wilson (b. 16 March 1954, San Francisco, California, USA). The elder sister had released two singles as Ann Wilson And The Daybreaks on a local label in 1967. After a series of unreleased demos she took her sister to Vancouver, Canada, in search of a backing ban
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